A congenital spinal deformity, chronic pain and several operations confined 28-year-old Jan Plomann to a wheelchair. A heavy blow of fate for the once active martial artist. After several operations in other hospitals, it was only at the German Spine and Scoliosis Center at the Sportklinik Hellersen that he found the medical help that gave him new hope and finally helped him back on his feet.
Congenital spondylolisthesis, also known as spondylolisthesis, was the cause of Jan Plomann's complaints. It all began in 2019, when the martial artist suffered an umbilical hernia during a training fight. He had already noticed occasional pain and a pulling sensation in his back beforehand, but it was only with the umbilical hernia that the symptoms became clearly noticeable. It also turned out that a previously inserted mesh had torn after a hernia and was pinching a nerve and the spermatic canal. The combination of injuries led to considerable movement restrictions. Sport was no longer an option.
His physical condition deteriorated steadily. After thorough examinations, a congenital spondylolisthesis was diagnosed. "Spondylolisthesis is a malformation in which the structure of the vertebral body is separated. Under stress, for example through sport or long-term strain, the affected vertebral body slips forward. This causes the nerve roots to move with it, while the intervertebral disc is pushed backwards. This displacement can irritate or pinch the nerves, resulting in severe pain and restricted movement," explains Liang Zhou, Head of consultant for special spinal surgery at the German Spine and Scoliosis Center at Sportklinik Hellersen.
Jan Plomann's first operation, which was performed in a hospital in Switzerland, did not provide complete relief: due to the torn mesh in his groin, a splinter in his knee and the lack of physiotherapy, he was unable to perform the necessary exercises for his back. "Afterwards, I found out that the operation had apparently not left enough space for the spinal canal. This complication led to spinal canal stenosis, which ultimately made a second back operation necessary," reports Jan Plomann. In December 2021, he therefore underwent a second back operation at a different hospital, during which the vertebral bodies were fused. This was followed by initial relief from the chronic nerve pain, particularly in his left leg. However, the numerous operations on his back, groin and navel - a total of four operations within a year - took their toll on his body and his ability to move. Jan Plomann was still dependent on a wheelchair and suffered from severe pain. Every movement was almost impossible.
It was only at the Sportklinik Hellersen that the young man felt taken seriously for the first time. "The doctors took the time to see me as a person and take a close look. I am infinitely grateful to them for that," he emphasizes. He was examined in detail at the Special Spine Surgery Department of the German Spine and Scoliosis Center at Sportklinik Hellersen. "The patient's condition was extremely critical. The muscles in both legs had completely regressed and he lacked any strength. From a clinical point of view, he had paraplegia," reports Liang Zhou. In order to clarify the cause of the paraplegia and rule out neurological diseases, Jan Plomann was initially referred to a neurologist. All examinations, including magnetic resonance imaging and electronic diagnostics, revealed no significant findings that could explain the paraplegia. "We discovered that after the second operation, the disc replacement and the upper and posterior screws were loose. The posterior structure of the vertebral body had been removed, resulting in complete instability of the anterior segments. The implants failed. We identify this as the main cause of the complaints. A repeat operation was necessary, in which we successfully replaced the implants and the disc replacement," explains the Consultant Physician.
After the operation, the patient felt the first signs of improvement. Although his road to recovery was rocky, he fought his way back to life. Jan Plomann no longer needs a wheelchair! He only attended his first follow-up examination with walking aids for support. His back pain has eased considerably and the muscles in his legs have built up again. He can walk again! "There are still limitations - I will probably never fight again. But with patience, acceptance, meditation and the support of my family and friends, I have learned to live with it. I'm grateful that I can stand and walk again," he sums up.
Spondylolisthesis
In spondylolisthesis, a vertebral body pushes forward over the vertebral body below it. This instability can be congenital or caused by degenerative changes in old age, overloading, injuries or accidents.
Spinal canal stenosis
Spinal canal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in which the nerves come under pressure. The most common causes are degenerative changes such as osteoarthritis, disc wear, bony growths, thickened ligaments, injuries or congenital malformations.
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